Liquid-level indicator



March 2o, 192s. 1,663,041 G. J. DUNBAUGH, JR A LIQUID LEVEL INDICATORFiled Oct. l0, 1925 Patented Mar. 20, 1928.

erster GEORGE J. DUNBAUGH, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOCHAMPION MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

LIQUID-LEVEL INDICATOR.

Application led October 10, 1923. Serial No. 667,672.

My invention relates to improvements in indicators or gauges forindicating the level of liquid in containers and especially forindicating at the dash-board of a motor vehicle the level of thegasoline in the tank at the reai' of the car.

The. invention has among its objects the production of a device ofthekind described, which is simple, convenient, compact, durable, reliable,efficient and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable.

It is usually very difficult and inconvenient to adjust the needle orpointer of the indicating gauge in case its reading or indication is notexactly correct. In order to facilitate such adjustment I have providedl a connection between the needle and the drive shaft for the same,whereby an adjustment or calibrationv of the needle may be Veffectedwithout removing the needle from its spindle and without removing theneedle from its case.

Y Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown anddescribed will be obvious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosures herein given.

' To this end my invention consists in the novel. construction,arrangement and combi nation of parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing my improved device in position uponthe dashboard; f

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; i v

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, wherein l have illustrat-ed the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, 1 indicates the clash-board, panel or instrument board ofa motor vehicle and through which the-indicating portion or part of asuitable liquid level indicating means is positioned so that theoperator of the vehicle may determine at a glance the condition of thegasoline supply.

A float or other means (not shown) may be arranged in the gasoline tankand connected with suitable mechanism to drive a flexibleshaft 2 leadingto the instrument board and to cause a rotation or oscillation of theshaft with incremental changes of the gasoline level. v v

An opening 3 is cut or formed through the instrument board 1', and acup, member a is inserted therethrough, said cup having a peripheralflange 5 bearing against one side of the instrument board. A, bracket 6`is arranged at the opposite side of the instrument boardl and isremovablyconnected Vto the cup member 4t by screws or bolts 7 so thatwhen the nuts onthese screws are tightened the bracket and cup vmemberkwill be clamped against the opposite sidesof the board. K i

A dial 8 may bearranged within the cup member and a removable bezel orframe 9 may be inserted within the cup,'said bezel beine' adapted tohold or carry a transparent memier 10 in placetherein and through whichthe dial may be viewed.

Thev flexible shaft 2 has its end connected to a part 11 havinga socketor seat12 inV the free end thereof, said member lladapted to rotatably'seat in a threaded sleeve 153 having a head bearing against one side ofthe bracket 6. A nut 14: engages the threaded member 13 and clampsagainst the opposite side of the bracket to firmly hold the member 13 inplace thereon. or sheathing 15 is preferably arranged to enclose theflexible shaft 2 and has an enlarged seat against. the outer end of thesleeve meinber 13, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2. A nut 17cooperates with the outer end A conduit Vend 16 adapted to be received'within and of the member 13 to clamp the conduit in place therein.

Thus it is seen that a rotationalmovement given the shaft 2 will betransmitted directly to the member 11. This movement, however, must betransmitted further before it will be visible across lthe dial-8. Forthis purpose a stub shaft or spindle 18 is rotatably journalled withinthe socket 12 of the member 11 the opposite 'end of the shaft 18extending through the dial and adapted to receive a needle or pointer 19thereon. Collars 2O are adapted vtobe arranged on thel v shaft 18 onopposite sides of the bottom of the cup member 4 to position the membersin their correct relation.

Y, Heretofore it has been necessary to removethe pointer or needle 19from the shaft or spindle and reset it Whenever it was desired to adjustor calibrate the same. This has been found extremely inconvenient inmost instances. In order to more easily ac# 'complish the adjustment orcalibration of the needle, I have arrangeda toothed Wheel 21 fixed onthe stub shaft 18, said Wheel being adapted to engage `with a'.resilient toothed member or arm 22 carried vby the part 11. The toothedmember 22 may be ratcheted relative to the member 21. by merely rotatingthe stub shaft 18 a desired angular distance-the needle may becalibrated to read correctly across the dial.

j The member 22 resilientlycpresses against the member21 and engages inthe notches therein, and holds the parts in their desired Y adjustedrelation, so that the drive of the shaft 2 is transmitted Without slipto the stub shaft 18 through the frictionally inc terengaging members 21and 22.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial ymodifications'r'nay be made in the same Without departingfrom the spirit of my invention; hence Ido` not Wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and:combination ofparts herein shown and described, or uses men tioned.

What I claim as new and desire by Letters Patent is:

1. An indicator comprising a dial member, a bracket, a shaft carried bysaid bracket land V having a `socket at one end,l a pointer movto secureable across said dial, a pointer shaft rotat@ ably j ournalled in saidsocket, and means fory transmitting drive between said shaft and pointershaft and comprising a toothed Wheel on one of said members and aVrerotation between said spindle and shacftaiid vcomprising a notchedWheel carried by one of said members, a resilient arm carried'by theother of said members. and having a toothve'ngageable in said notches',whereby said members may be adjusted angularly of of one another.` Y j.f

3. An indicator' comprising a-dial' member, a driven shaft having asocket :at Yone' end, a pointer movable over the dial, a pointershaftrotatably journaled in said socket,` a

toothed Wheel on the pointer shaft, a resilient toothed member on thedriven shaft for adjustable engagement With the toothed Wheel.

In testimony whereof, I' have hereunto signed my4 name.

GEORGE J. DUNBAUGH, Ja

